I stumbled across this form while doing some research. I have Comcast HD cable and am looking to buy rather than lease a DVR. I also like the idea of having a hard drive so that I can copy programs to a dvd. After reading through the forms, I am leaning toward the Magnavox H2160MW9. However, in a post by wajo on Basic Features - specifically Tuning and Viewing TV Channels - it states "The digital ATSC/QAM tuner has channels 1-135". Since I receive channels well above 135, will I be limited to just 135 channels or is there a way to receive the other channels as well?
Thanks,
PaulB5

This help file has more info on OTA and cable-QAM channel tuning. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12470932&postcount=131)

Added: be aware that the new 2160A for 2009 has a defect that Funai says is a "warranty issue," as described here. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12309999#P4)

Since I receive channels well above 135, will I be limited to just 135 channels or is there a way to receive the other channels as well?

All the cable company "channels" are located within the 1-135 range of sub-channels that a QAM tuner may receive. Many of those signals are scrambled requiring the cable company converter box to unscramble them. The cable company converter box "maps" the "channels" out to their number "assignments." (My Comcast converter box "maps" channels out to as far as around #950. Those "numbers" are not the actual locations of those "channels." Channel 941 may actually be located on QAM sub-channel 121-2739 for all I know.)

Since QAM tuner equipped devices not supplied by the cable company do not unscramble the signals the cable company scrambles one must rent the cable company box to watch "scrambled channels." It all about $$$!

Yep, without a converter, you're at the mercy of what the cableco will send you "in the clear." Could be a good selection of channels, could be only the networks (ABC, NBC, etc.) and a few others. You won't know until the QAM tuner scans, and the channel numbers will be different from what the cable box will show.

If you want to keep all the channels, you'll have to rent something from the cableco. You can use a cable box in conjunction with a DVD recorder, or buy a TiVo or Moxi box and use it with a cablecard if burning to DVD isn't critical.